Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-24
INDIAN RIDERS.
GREAT FLATS IN H0RsEnANSHrP-
sCEsIsiN AN INDIA5 CAMP.
Reckless Feats-Eanging by One Foo: e.
Exchange Of Horses While Riding
at Full Tilt

VubuchB.l
When We last parted company with
the Tcadersof the RCpuJiican we were
in the Indian camp OF the Arapahoe
Chief Friday. Here We saw many
curious scenes and learned much of
Indian hfe. One day Friday said to
me he would like to show of his young
men and let me see how well they
could ride. At first ! expected some
treachery, as the whole herd of ponies
were still in the hands OF the troops.
j he old chief, however, was so earnest
and apparently honest about 1t told
the captain who had the herd in charge
he might let Friday have fifty ponies
FOR his young men. In about an hour
they drew up before the tents IN war
rant and feathers. and were as fine a
locking sct of young fellows as | had
ever seen. Hardly hut one was six
feet in height and beautifully pro-
poriioned. They sat their horses
ike ccntaurs and were ease and
grace itself in the saddle. At
signal from the chief they began
their movements with a yell that sent
the blood curdling to the heart, and
was enough, ii heard unawares or IN
Tie nighttime, to make ones hair
stand on end. In moment they had
disappeared over a neighboring hill TO
the night. and ! thoughtthey had gone,
but. hearing mighty trlmpllng OF
lorses | looked to the left and there
tlev cane. 1 can compare 1T to no.
thing hut the wind, and they swept by
so swift md compact that they looked
ike ball Of horses and men
Splitting in two, one body swept
to the right and another to the left and
again disappeared. In about two
minutes the two bodies charged each
other in solid lines, and waited al
most lrcathlessly for the shock; but
as the hor,es heads almost touched
each other the files skilfully opened to
the ripht and left and the lines passed
through lie intervals without touching
Wheeling to the rightabout they
passed back in an instant and again
disapuearcd over the hills. 1t was
about fifteen minutes before they
came in sight, and Friday informed
me they were blowing their horses.
Presently On they cEme and wheeled
by fours, and finally dcployed MS Skin
mishers. Ii was now We saw the finest
rdiyidualhonomanship. Some would
approach lying so close to the ponys
back nothing but the horses could be
seen. Others stood up and rode ~
circus-men do. Some would hang with
one foot and one hand on the horses
end sweep by. their bodies completed
protected Ly the bodies of the animals.
Some loapod moon the ground, hold
ing To the mane OF the horse,
and, after running = step or
tvo. would SWING themselves mp
ON the lacks of the horses again as
ca,ily rs any cir,usman could do 1t.
Tie positions thy assumed and the
feats Of LUs, mausLip which they per
Toned were Incredible, and | doubt IL
ANYTHING outside OF q circus ring ever
,oua.l,d il. They would Throw objects
on tie uouud and pick them No aSala
While vassiug at full speed, tha var
rioI, hanging 10 the side, Of the horses
with one foot and one hand. They
drew lows and shot arrows from under
meath the uccks andeyen bellies OF their
Lola,s while riding At a last Fallop.
Cur cavalry could not learn 10 rlt-
ms W,llss these Indians did if eachmn
was trained for twenty years They
exchanged horses while riding, and got
behind each other One man would
fall of Lis Lorsc as if wounded, aud
two others would ride mp beside lin,
aud, taking him hv an arm and leg.
sWiug him between their horses aui
carry limo The exhibition, or drill,
. Friday called it, lasted nearly two
hours. and the men and horses were
completely exhausted. had never seen
such magnificent feats OF horseman-
ship IN NY life, aud j freely
said 30. At this Friday WIS
much pleased and calling up
the Young men repeated to them i'm "a
loud voice what had said and added %
few words Of lis own, complimentin2
them. The young men were very proud
of the manner in which they had ac-
united Themselves, and | could mag
me the feelings Of their parents and
swcethcart'. The performers were
much worn ont, some Of them being
hardly able to stand altar their yiolcn.
exercise. and all evening | saw them
l-ng in the lodges, where the Indian
women brought them food and water,
lstLed their hands, arms, aud limbs,
end couilt1 their hair.